Shipping case



Oct. 28, 1941. H. F. WATERS 2,260,424

SHIPPING CASE Filed Feb. '7, 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 ATTORNEY.

yOcv, 1941. H. F. WATERS j A2,260,424

SHIPPING CASE Filed Feb. 7. 1939 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Patented Oct. 28, 1941 j UNITED STATES' `PATEN-'I OFFICE SHIPPING CASE Harry F. Waters, New York, N. Y.

Application February 7, 1939, Serial No. 255,029

(Cl. 20G-65) 4 Claims.

My present invention relates to improvements in shipping cases and, .more particularly, to a shipping case provided with means to separate the packages packed therein in such a manner that certain of the walls of the package will be free to move when subjected toshock or those stresses and strains encountered in shipment.

One of the important features of my present. invention is to provide in a shipping case for packages containing' liquids such as oil,` milk, etc., suitable means for holding certain of the walls of the packages from contact with walls of adjacent packages to the end that these walls may flex due to surging of the contained liquid,

. thereby preventing undue pressure on the closures of the packages. l

Another object of my present invention is to provide an improved form of shipping case for liquid packages wherein sufilcient space is allowed between certain of the walls of adjacent packages to permit flexing of the walls so that the closures of the package will be subjected to as little strain as possible.

These and other objects of my present invention will become more apparent from a reading of the following description taken in conjunction with the attached drawings in which:

Fig. l1 is a top plan view of ashipping case with the closure panels in open position to illustrate certain features of my present invention;

Fig. 2 is a broken sectional view through the shipping case illustrating in detail the manner in which the cartons are held therein;

Fig. 3 is a sectional View through a shipping case illustrating a modified form of the partitioning or separating means;

Fig. 4 isa view similar to Fig. 3, but illustrating another form of partitioning or separating means; I

Fig. 5 is an enlarged perspective view of one of the individual cartons, certain parts being broken away to illustrate the relationship betweenthe inner liquidproof bag and the carton;

Fig. 6 is a perspective view of the separator illustrated in Fig. 3; and

Fig. 7 is a perspective view of the separator shown in Fig. 4.

Referring now to the drawings in which like numerals indicate like parts and more particu- 'larly to the embodiment of my invention dis' closed in Figs. A1 and 2, I have shown a shipping in Fig. 5. carton II preferably rectangular in' shape in which is positioned a liquidproof bag I2 containing oil I3 or other liquid. Both the shipping case I0 and the carton Il are of standard confstruction and are formed from any suitable sheeted fibrous material as, for example, kraft board, chipboard, jute board or the like. The shipping case is provided with conventional closure panels I4, I5, I6 and II.v

In the packaging of milk-and oil or liquids readily responsive to atmospheric changes, I have found that increases in volume of the liquid due to an increasein temperature will place the side walls I8 and I8 of the carton under stress and if these walls cannot flex or are held rigidly against similar walls of adjacent cartons or against the walls of a case, the increase ln vol. ume will cause pressure against the closure of the inner liquidproof bag and will in a great many instances cause leakage along the closure. The sharp or wide uctuation in the volume will in some cases actually break the walls of the inner bag. Although it is more economical to use an inner liquidproof bag which in turn is supported by an outer carton, nevertheless, the attendant shipping diiiiculties have restricted the use'of such a package in the distribution of oil. I have discovered that'by the use of partitioning means which will be presently described, the problems heretofore encountered are met. n

In accordance with rmy present invention I provide partitioning means which are. so located `with respect to the cartons that the sidewalls of the latter neither contact with each other nor Y with the walls of the shipping case. I have illustrated several forms of partitioning means. Referring now speciiically to Figs. 1 and2, I have provided partitioning means 20 and 20 which serve to space the side walls of the cartons from the walls of the shipping case. Intermediate I separators or partitioning means 2l and 2|' are also provided which serve to space the sidewalls case as clearly illustrated in Fig. 2. The cen- -case I0 in which are packed the cartons Il and which are of the construction illustrated in detail Each dispensing unit comprises al trally disposed separator or partitioning means is formed by flanges 22 and 23 carried, respec l tively, by the outer edges of the closure flaps or panels 'I4 and II.`

The above described separators or partitioning means are duplicated in the bottom ofthe case I and comprise outer partitioning means or separators 24, 24', intermediate partitioning means 28, 25' and a centrally disposed partitioning means or separator formed by the anges 28 and 21. y

In Fig. 2 I have illustrated the manner in which vthe partitioning means serve to protect the cartons during shipment. In the carton illustrated in the left hand side of Fig. 2, it will be noted that sidewalls thereof are not subjected to abnormal pressure so that the level of the liquid will be adjacent to tlie top 28 of the bag I2. Should the shipping case be dropped lor subjected to shock the liquidwill tend to surge, thereby creating an internal pressure which must be dissipated throughout the carton. If the sidewalls of the carton were held conned the inter- .nal pressure created would of necessity cause the liquid to press against the closure of the bag. As has been previously described pressure against the closure of the bag would be liable to either breakthe material from which the bag is formed o'r would cause leakage in the closure seam.

However, by allowing an outward movement of the sidewalls'of the carton, the'danger of breaking the bag containing the oil or other liquid is obviated. As will be presentlyzdescribed and as may be ascertained from an inspection of Fig. 5,L

the volumetric 'capacity of the bag is greater than the volumetric capacity of the carton irrespective of whether the walls of the carton are bulged outwardly. I have found that itis not necessary to separate the smaller end walls I9. I9' of adjacent cartons from each other since the sides or area of the side walls are such'as to compensate for any turbulence or surging oiv the liquid or for any increase inthe normal volume'of the packaged liquid.

Referring now to Figs. 3 and 6, I have illustrated another form of separator or partitioning means which has proved also to be suitable in commercial use. As in the 'embodiment illustrated in Figs. l and 2, the shipping case 28 is to the walls of the carton so that when the carton is squared up the bag will also be squared up in tracoma.

of are much greater in-area than the end.walls I8 (one of said end walls having been omitted in order to illustrate certain features of construction). The liquidproof bag l2 is so formed that the longitudinal seam 42 does not have its raw edges 43 in contact with the liquid I3 contained therein. In order to renden the bag liquidproof, it may be coated with any suitable liquid-proong material or it may be made fromA a laminated stock, the inside lamination being liquidproof. There is a distinct relation between the size of the bag and the size of the carton, the size of the bag being such that the walls thereof will at all times be supported in a' slack untensioned condition by the walls of the carton.

In vorder that the bag and carton may be shipped at to the renery,l the bag is attached a position suitable for lling. I have found, however, that the squaring of the bag to the carton walls cannot be done in a haphazard manner.

of conventional construction, and since it is not rator or partitioning means, it has been illustrated semi-diagrammatically. The top and bottom separators or partitioning means 30 and 3| are formed from an integral blank of brous material. The blank is so scored that the marginal edges thereof may be folded normally to the central panel 33 as illustrated in Fig. 6, thereby providing flanges 34. Each separator,

.modified in any way in order to form the sepatherefore, is in effect a tray whose internal dimensions are such as to permit the tray to be fitted snugly over the top and bottom of each of the cartons 32. This form ofseparator or partitioning means is advantageous in that the desired space between the side walls of the cartons'is at all times assured. In some instances the integrally Iformed partitions or separators illustrated in Figs. 1 and 2 become broken or forced out of shape, thereby making it difficult to close the shipping case satisfactorily.

Referring now to the form of separator or partitioning means illustrated in Figs. 4 and 7, I

have shown top and bottom partitioning means -.or separators 35 and 38 formed from molded fibrous material. The fibrous material' is so molded as to provide transversely and laterally disposed ribs '31 and 38 projecting from the material forming the b aseof the partitioning means or separator, thereby forming a plurality of pockets 38 of a size whose internal dimensions are such that the top and/or bottom of the carton will fit snuglyf therein so that the side walls of Care must be taken not to adhere the bag walls to thecorners ofthe carton, because when tension -is placed on the bag when it is lled or against the corners of the carton, there will be a tendency for the bag to tear. Accordingly the bands of adhesive 44, extending along the sidewalls of the carton, stop well short of the top and-bottom thereof. Similarly those `bands of adhesive 45 located at the top and bottom of the end and sidewalls of the carton do not extend to the corners 46 and 41. Thus the bag walls are free to move for a substantial area around these corners.

This method of adhering the bag to the carton also permits the top of the bagto move should the volume of the oil uctuate due to temperature changes. Theclosure for the bag is formed by bringing opposed walls of the bag into contacting relation and then sealing same. The sealed portion is then folded downwardly against the packaged contents andthe ears 41 are folded over against the closure first formed.

1. A .shipping case of the class described comprising, in combination, an outer shipping-con-l tainer, a pluralityof packages containing liquid 'packaged in said container, means. located at the top and bottom of said container spacing the packagesfrOm each other and from the walls of the container a distance sufficient to permit flexing of the walls of the packages when subjected.

to external and internal forces, said means each comprising a centralpanel provided with flanges extending normal thereto embracing the end of the package, the number of said means located at the top -and bottom of said container being twice the number of packages packaged in said container.4

2.Y In a shippingl case of the class described, an

outer shipping container, a plurality of packages containing a liquid positioned within said 'container, each of said packages comprising `a substantially rectangular carton having its front and rear walls substantially wider than the side walls thereof, said carton being made of relatively rigid material but capable of substantial distortion when subjected to external and internal forces, means located at the top and bottom of said container spacing the packages from each other and from the walls of the container a distance suflicient to permit flexing of Ithe walls of the packages when subjected to external and internal forces, said means each comprising a central panel provided with flanges extending normal thereto embracing the end of the package, the number of said means located at'the top and bottom of said container being twice the number of packages packaged in said container.

3. A package of the class described, comprising an outer container, a plurality of flexible paper units having a liquid sealed therein within said container, each of said units comprising a substantially rectangular carton capable of substantial exure when subjected to stresses whereby upon application of external or internal force the walls of said cartons tend to bulge outwardly and increase the cross-section of said cartons within said bulged portions, and means at the ends only of said cartons spacing walls of juxtaposed cartons from each other a distance sucient to permit substantially maximum bulging of said walls without contact therebetween.

4. A package of the class described, comprising an outer container, a pluralityof flexible paper units having a liquid sealed therein within said container, each of said units comprising a substantially rectangular carton capablel of substantial flexure when subjected to stresses whereby upon application of external or internal force the walls of said cartons tend to bulge outwardly and increase the cross-section of said-cartons within said bulged portions, and means at the ends only of said cartons spacing walls of juxtaposed cartons from each other and fi ,m the sides of said outer container a distance suflicicnt to permit substantially maximum bulging of said carton walls without contact of said walls with one another or with said container.

HARRY F. WATERS. 

